“Dust2Glory” Film Premiers Baja Experience on the Big Screen

“Dust2Glory” premiers Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 7:30 pm in 400 select U.S. theaters nationwide.

Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico—The season finale of the four-race 2017 SCORE World Desert Championship ended Sunday, November 19, with overall winner Carlos Apdaly Lopez in the spotlight, defeating hundreds of starters in cars, trucks, UTVs, motorcycles and quads. Among starters in the SCORE Trophy Truck division, Safecraft’s Larry Roeseler and Luke McMillin in Trophy Truck No. 83, placed seventh in class and ninth overall four-wheel to finish, while Andy McMillin and Tavo Vildosola in Trophy Truck No. 31 did not finish (DNF) due to a blown motor at mile 550.

This year’s SCORE World Desert Championship was the 50th Anniversary of the Baja 1000— one of the world’s toughest race through a beautiful and often treacherous desert landscape, over boulders or miles of dirt coupled with extreme temperatures, where drivers are mentally and physically challenged as they race across vehicle-destroying terrain. It is an experience like no other, which has captivated award-winning documentary filmmaker Dana Brown in the latest film “Dust2Glory” premiering in 400 select movie theaters nationwide on Wed., December 6 (see fathomevents.com for locations). The documentary is a sequel which chronicles all four races in the 2016 SCORE Desert Championship featuring interviews with Safecraft’s Pat O’Keefe, Larry Roeseler, Andy McMillin and Tyler McQuarrie.

Here’s LR’s and Luke McMillin’s post-race recap of the 2017 Baja 1000:

I had an amazing time both before and during the race. I pre-ran for 14 days straight – over 5,000 miles. I was so ready to take charge of this race! (Well, that sounds easy!) Luke did an amazing job getting the truck to me, running with the top five guys all day. He actually brought me the truck in first place. I was so excited and proud of him. I knew now it was my turn to do what I do – be fast but smart at the same time. The eventual winner was 3.5 minutes behind us at the driver change; after about 200 miles we expanded that to around 11 minutes.

Around race mile 930 and only 200 to go is when the disappointment hit. The rear coil over shock came apart leaving us only the pace of a turtle to get to the McMillin crew for repairs.

After all was said, we lost over 2 hours. I got back in and headed south to La Paz finishing seventh. I was sad and happy all at the same time. We didn’t win but still a great effort from everyone. Special thanks to Pat O’Keefe and the McMillin family for the opportunity and all of our volunteers, Sean Hogland and crew; BF Goodrich, Method, Safecraft and of course my family and Luke McMillin.

– Larry Roeseler

We had a great time in Baja; we pre ran our section at least 3 times – some areas even more. The pre-runners did great and we put in the work to make sure we would be ready for race day – and we were!

We had a great race going. The first few hundred miles were as expected; nothing crazy, just cruising down the peninsula making sure we didn’t have any issues or mistakes; staying in line. We made our way up to third truck on the road by about mile 300 and followed Andy McMillin and Rob McCachren all day. We even got a few hundred yards off both their bumpers at times. The race was very fast-paced. At mile 350, Rob, Andy, myself, Bryce Menzies and Apdaly Lopez were all within a mile of each other… crazy! We had absolutely no issues. By about mile 550 we passed Andy and Rob with blown motors and took the lead. I did not realize we were first truck on the road when I got to my pit– driver change at mile 580. When I got out of the truck seeing how excited LR and the crew was was probably the highlight for me. LR is my idol, I did not want to let him down…

We gave him the truck with a 4-minute lead. By mile 900, LR was picking up time and we had over an 11-minute lead! At mile 915 we broke a shock with approximately a 15-minute lead. Absolutely heart breaking! LR did a great job – bad luck just got a hold of us!

I can’t wait to get back out there! We are looking forward to a great season next year!

– Luke McMillin

From award-winning documentary filmmaker Dana Brown, ‘Dust2Glory’ will chronicle each of the four races in the 2016 SCORE World Desert Championship. Brown’s original ‘Dusty to Glory’ released in 2005, became an iconic classic showcasing the legendary SCORE Baja 1000. Now, D2G, which began shooting at last year’s SCORE Baja 1000, and is continuing up close and personal coverage capturing the robust racers in their amazing adventures in Mexico’s majestic Baja California peninsula through all four spectacular 2016 races ending with last year’s 49th SCORE Baja 1000. ‘Dust2Glory’ premiers Wed., December 6 at 7:30 pm in 400 select U.S. theaters nationwide (fathomevents.com).

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